Among its principal combatant ships, the navy has 68 submarines (many of which
are slated for decommissioning in the mid-2000s). One is a Xia class submarine-launched
ballistic missile (SSBN) force strategic-capability submarine. There are plans
for more advanced SSBNs by the end of the decade. The navy also has an estimated
21 destroyers and 42 frigates, as well as 368 fast-attack craft, 39 mine warfare
ships, 10 hovercraft, 6 troop transports, 19 landing-ship/tank ships, 37 medium
landing ships, 45 utility landing craft, 10 air-cushioned landing craft, 163
support and miscellaneous craft, 8 submarine support ships, 4 salvage and repair
ships, 29 supply ships, 1 multirole aviation ship, and about 700 land-based
combat aircraft and 45 armed helicopters. China also has plans to launch a 40,000-ton
aircraft carrier by 2010.

The air force has some 1,900 combat aircraft, including armed helicopters.
The inventory
includes 180 bombers, more than 950 fighters and 838 ground attack fighters,
an estimated 290
reconnaissance/electronic intelligence aircraft, an estimated 513 transports,
an estimated 170
helicopters, some 200 training aircraft, and an unmanned aerial vehicle. Weapons
include air-toair
missiles and ground-based air defense artillery using surface-to-air missiles
and antiaircraft
artillery.

The strategic missile forces have in their inventory 20 or more intercontinental
ballistic missiles
(ICBMs), between 130 and 150 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, one Xia
class submarine
carrying 12 submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and about 335 or more short-range
ballistic
missiles.